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Mining Services News
More, faster data can make for safer tailings dams
By: Simone Liedtke 14th May 2020 Renewed global concern about the risks of tailings dam failure is accelerating a revolution in the use of automated sensors to generate big, real-time data to better monitor and manage these facilities, reports SRK Consulting. “The need to know more about tailings dam conditions – and in real... →
Council increases mapping to drive South Africa's exploration attractiveness 
By: Donna Slater 12th May 2020 As part of government’s response to keep the South African economy afloat during the outbreak of Covid-19 and beyond, the Council for Geosciences (CGS) has been mandated to increase its country-wide survey to bolster South Africa as an exploration hotspot once the lockdown is over. CGS CEO Mosa... →
Miners learning lessons from global Covid-19 experiences
By: Simone Liedtke 12th May 2020 Information gathered from across the globe is paving the way for South Africa’s surface mines to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 disease in the workplace and mitigate its effects during and after the pandemic, Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) says. With the... →
Kibo increases Mozambique land holding to expand energy projects
By: Donna Slater 12th May 2020 Africa-focused energy company Kibo Energy has acquired 345 ha of land adjacent to its Benga power plant project, in Mozambique's Tete province. Alongside hosting a 150 MW to 300 MW thermal power plant, which is being developed as part of a joint venture agreement with local energy company... →
Altus records encouraging results in Mali
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th May 2020 Dual-listed Altus Strategies has recorded encouraging results from a 70-hole 2 042 m shallow air core (AC) drilling programme to test the potential strike extension of the FT Prospect at the company's Tabakorole gold project, in southern Mali. The programme was completed under a joint venture... →
CEF fills all vacant CEO positions for group companies
By: Donna Slater 11th May 2020 Having not had permanent CEOs since 2014, the Central Energy Fund (CEF) has now filled the position of group CEO, as well as all vacant CEO positions at its group companies, in particular at the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), the Petroleum Agency of South Africa (Pasa) and national oil company... →
Developing requisite leadership for mining industry
By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 8th May 2020 One of the major and critical challenges of the future – with regard to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – is ensuring the requisite leadership for the mining industry, says University of Pretoria (UP) mining engineering department head Professor Ronny Webber-Youngman. As a result, several... →
Free access to diamond course during Covid-19
By: Simone Liedtke 8th May 2020 In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds, the diamond mining company’s education and training entity, is providing free access to its Diamond Foundation Course. The decision was taken to offer support and “play a small part” in helping those who are working from... →
Rope-access firm assists staff growth 
By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 8th May 2020 Industrial rope access company Skyriders conducted in-house rope access training at its Midrand-based training academy in March, with human resource, administration and skills development facilitator Rethabile Mofokeng noting that the training targeted those who wanted to progress through the... →
Training programme to be launched in response to 4IR
By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 8th May 2020 Artisan and mining skills training college Colliery Training College (CTC) will launch a modern training programme – Artisan 4.0 – in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The launch of the programme is scheduled to coincide with the Electra Mining show in September. CTC MD Johan... →
Active efforts to conserve water resources
8th May 2020 It is commonly accepted that South Africa is a water-stressed country but, as a developing country, the balance between growth and the exploitation of natural resources is a sensitive matter, says mining investment company Menar. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) noted that the 2017... →
Solutions provider develops ‘world-first’ VR stope
By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 8th May 2020 Virtual reality (VR) solutions provider Simulated Training Solutions (STS) is developing a “world-first” VR stope for diversified miner Anglo American’s Amandelbult platinum operation, in Limpopo, says STS VR and new technology head Johan Bouwer. Phase 1 of this project started in August last... →
Service launched to analyse training needs, performance
By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 8th May 2020 Global mining technology and workforce optimisation firm Immersive Technologies successfully launched its Operator Performance Analytics service at the end of last year, says Immersive Technologies regional VP Johan Stemmet. He notes that this service is the only platform currently available that... →
Spillway gates increase dam capacity
By: Theresa Bhowan 8th May 2020 Increasing the capacity of return water dams results in additional water for mine use, particularly when considering the water-intensive nature of mining activities, and the consumption of water by staff and residential communities in and around a mine. Automatic water control equipment supplier... →
Contractor seeks to upskill staff
7th May 2020 Drilling and blasting contractor Blasting & Excavating (B&E) offers upskilling and certification opportunities for students and current staff. Owing to the lack of qualified blasters within the industry, B&E initiated a learner blaster programme in which 35 internal employees are being trained to... →
WA moves mining services online
By: Esmarie Iannucci 7th May 2020 The Western Australian government has unveiled new procedures to support the resources sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a key focus of transitioning to online services. Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston said that the resulting changes and new or revised guidelines would ensure... →
Mining employers advised to get ahead of the curve – Norton Rose Fulbright
By: Simone Liedtke 6th May 2020 Chief Inspector of Mines David Msiza has been ordered to publish health and safety guidelines to manage and mitigate against Covid-19 under alert Level 4. The Labour Court’s upcoming deadline of May 18 compels government to issue detailed guidelines on health and safety, and requires that all... →
Harmony Gold’s operational free cash more than doubles to R3bn
By: Martin Creamer 6th May 2020 The operating free cash flow margin of gold mining company Harmony Gold more than doubled in the nine months to March 31 to 13% from 6% in the corresponding period last year. This was due largely to a 21.6% increase in the average rand gold price received for the period to R704 965/kg, the... →
Peter Steenkamp
Mining needs regulatory lifeline amid pandemic, says law firm
By: Simone Liedtke 6th May 2020 The full impact of South Africa’s “Covid-19 induced hibernation” will only fully emerge in the months and years to come, law firm Hogan Lovells Asia-Africa practice group head Wessel Badenhorst says. Considering that, by the same token, businesses and employees alike are metaphorically fighting... →
Geoscientists doing well despite pandemic - AIG
By: Esmarie Iannucci 6th May 2020 While employment figures for Australian geoscientists deteriorated in the first three months of 2020, the results have not been as severe as previously feared, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) said on Wednesday. Unemployment increased to 10% in the March quarter, compared with... →
Aspasa advises on preparing stockpiles for rapid post-lockdown deliveries
By: Donna Slater 6th May 2020 Surface mining industry association Aspasa has advised its members to use the time between the reopening of surface mines and the delivery of products wisely, by preparing smart stockpiles, internal roadway systems and traffic separation measures to deal quickly and safely with a pickup in demand... →
Resgen enters into debt deal to fund rail link for Boikarabelo
By: Donna Slater 5th May 2020 JSE-listed energy resources company Resource Generation (Resgen) reports that its subsidiary, Ledjadja Coal has entered into nonbinding equity and debt term sheets with Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund 2 SA (PAIDF2SA) and Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund 2 limited liability... →
Subscription model launched for African clients
By: Khutso Maphatsoe 1st May 2020 Mining software solutions provider MICROMINE has launched a new pay-as-you-go subscription model for African clients to keep pace with industry needs. The company notes that the struggle that smaller African companies face is getting enough capital investment into their operations. As a result,... →
Future of mining requires efficiency
1st May 2020 The demand for raw materials is rising, and producers around the world are working towards the goal of generating more with less, says instrumentation and automation supplier Endress+Hauser. “While our planet boasts a wealth of natural resources, industrialised nations and the large emerging... →
Zero harm difficult to attain – Aspasa
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Surface mining association Aspasa director Nico Pienaar tells Mining Weekly that the surface mining industry currently faces many challenges that need to be addressed so that mines can achieve the ultimate goal of zero harm. These include illegal mining not being adequately addressed by the... →
Covid-19 to have outsized impact on mining – developer
1st May 2020 The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic and, at the time of writing, there were more than 1.3-million confirmed cases worldwide. Mining companies have been affected by Covid-19 outbreaks, and global restrictions to encourage physical distancing have meant... →
Mining shifts focus to technology, automation
1st May 2020 Technology implemented alongside the correct logistics and strategy, makes a difference to age-old industries, automation company SICK Automation noted in a press release in February. As the mining industry is faced with numerous challenges relating to growth in a digitised economy, it is in... →
Miner implements enterprise, supplier development
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Ranked as one of the top five coal miners in South Africa, diversified miner Exxaro Resources has sought to implement leading practices in enterprise and supplier development across the company’s core functional areas. Exxaro currently supplies local and domestic markets with thermal,... →
Autonomous rig to boost safety, efficacy
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Drilling and blasting contractor Blasting & Excavating (B&E) intends to add the REL C650 series of autonomous drill rigs to its portfolio to offer a higher level of safety and efficacy to the opencast operations it services. The first rig is being manufactured in India and will be handed over to... →
Proper wash-bays prove beneficial
By: Halima Frost 1st May 2020 Investing in a ‘proper’ wash-bay water cannon can save money and time on vehicle upkeep and maintenance for an opencast operation, says fire protection supplier DoseTech MD Mike Feldon. He notes that operations often uses standard fire protection ‘monitors’ or water cannons, which are not fit for... →
Adviser streamlines mine processes
By: Halima Frost 30th April 2020 Specialist mining advisory company Ukwazi Mining Solutions was selected to assist a major mining client with the streamlining and automation of its planning process for a sizeable Southern Africa openpit coal operation last year. “The client had many challenges ranging from inconsistent data... →
Weir contributes to Solidarity Fund, shares lessons learned during lockdown
By: Marleny Arnoldi 29th April 2020 Following the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 23 that South Africa's strict lockdown restrictions will start to ease from May, engineering solutions provider Weir Minerals Africa is preparing to resume operations and shares the lessons it has learned before and during the... →
Opencast mines may return to 100% of capacity from May 1 – Patel
By: Martin Creamer 27th April 2020 Opencast mines are permitted to return in phases to 100% operation from May 1 but underground mines must continue at 50% of production capacity, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Saturday. Speaking during a media briefing covered by Mining Weekly on South Africa’s easing from the... →
Industry has growth opportunity in inclusion of more women, says Harmony FD
By: Simone Liedtke 24th April 2020 Considering that South Africa’s economy is in a crisis state, gold miner Harmony Gold Mining Company’s newly appointed FD Boipelo Lekubo says the inclusion of more women, in efforts to improve diversity and to attract and retain traditionally unrepresented groups, is an opportunity for growth. In... →
Consider compliance when buying second-hand TMMs
By: Tracy Hancock 24th April 2020 Mining companies buying second-hand trackless mobile machines (TMMs) on auction need to ensure that only proximity detection systems (PDSes) from suppliers that have been approved by the original-equipment manufacturer (OEM) are fitted to such machines when complying with the Mine Health and... →
SECOND-HAND SUPPORT Mines that decide to buy machinery on auction are those that have strong maintenance teams that can undertake on-site rebuilds
Upswing in online mining auctions expected
By: Tracy Hancock 24th April 2020 Mining companies, like most industries, will investigate all methods of generating capital following the loss of trade caused by South Africa’s three-week lockdown to limit the spread of Covid-19, says South African Institute of Auctioneers (SAIA) chairperson John Cowing. Speaking to Mining... →
New blood key to Mining 4.0 transition
By: Mamaili Mamaila 24th April 2020 Although driving youth participation and innovation in the mining industry is crucial, the advent of Industry 4.0 in the mining industry (Mining 4.0) often makes it challenging, as the youth perceives the industry as less attractive, when compared with other mainstream career fields. →
MINING FOR THE FUTURE Mining 4.0 is about integrating people with technology to allow for seamless cooperation
Precinct reaffirms R&D focus, test mine in the works
By: Mamaili Mamaila 24th April 2020 The Mandela Mining Precinct, a public–private mining industry collaboration, remains committed to advancing people-centric processes and technologies, in the research and development (R&D) activities that it will be undertaking for the advancement of the South African mining industry. →
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